A Seattle teen who was seemingly obsessed with school shooters was arrested Saturday on firearms charges.
The 13-year-old, not identified, was arrested around 1:00 a.m. Saturday after Pierce County deputies and SWAT received information about a juvenile with “school shooting ideations” who was allegedly making threats to kill, according to a press release from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. A search of the juvenile’s residence yielded 23 firearms with several boxes of ammunition, and authorities noted the firearms were unsecured and mounted on the walls, making them easily accessible to the teen.
In addition, evidence from the teen’s bedroom indicated “he was obsessed with past school shooters and imitated similar behaviors with photos and inscriptions throughout his room,” according to the same press release. Investigators also found social media posts from June 2025 in which the teen appeared to display weapons and was dressed in attire similar to that of past school shooters, The Associated Press reported.
In one of the apparent social media posts, the teen allegedly wrote, “when I turn 21 iam going to kill people,” the outlet reported, referencing a probable cause statement. In another post, the teen purportedly said, “its over! my time is almost [here]!,” according to the same probable cause statement. The teen also allegedly had a list of people he wanted to target, KOMO News reported. A tipster alerted authorities to the teen’s alleged threats, according to the outlet.
The teen was charged with unlawful firearms possession and making a threat. He pleaded not guilty to five charges, four of which are felonies, and has been ordered to remain in detention, The Associated Press reported.
Pierce County Sheriff Deputy Carly Cappetto reacted to the teen’s arrest, telling the outlet in an email it was a “matter of time” before a “tragic incident” occurred.
“It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident. It is unknown who or what the intended target was going to be, but it’s clear it was a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred,” Cappetto said.
Cappetto told The Associated Press that it’s up to the prosecutor to decide if the teen’s parents will be charged for improper storage of the firearms. An investigation into the teen’s parents is underway, according to the outlet. (RELATED: REPORT: Police Hunting For Suspect Who Allegedly Set Elderly Man And Woman On Fire, Killing Them In Their Home)
Individuals under the age of 18 are typically not allowed to own firearms, according to Washington state law, unless they are participating in hunting, firearms safety courses or shooting competitions. Unsafe storage of a firearm is also a crime in Washington state if an individual uses the firearm to commit a crime or carries, displays, or exhibits the firearm in a manner intended to intimidate others, including in public.
The teen is scheduled to attend a pre-trial conference on Sept. 17 and a detention review on Sept. 22, The Associated Press reported, citing an email from the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.